Art and Design

By Bazaar Staff 28/04/2014

ABSTRACT CREATION

A discussion with Kuwait-based artist Anil Kumar Panicker

“The Creator is the source of all beauty – Through the work of my fingers I am trying to depict that beauty,” says a painter. He recreates using precise strokes and angles, vivid color mixtures and soothing textures to capture minute details. A mere imitation of this vast universe, he admits, on a comparably minute canvas – a mastermind undoubtedly. His triumph lies in all that the illustration conveys: a moment, a story or simply grandeur. As an artist experimenting with bold drawing techniques, Anil Kumar Panicker displays strong inclination toward abstract, realistic and portrait painting. He also excels in water-color painting and sketches.

“Though often people demand portraits, I prefer abstract because it allows me to play with images, and colors. There is always an idea. Whether clear or vague, I have a thought which evolves into a picture. It’s either an idea put into being or a blur scene in my mind that develops as I progress. I mainly use rich, bright and lifelike colors and I generally showcase Arabic and Indian traditions and customs,” explains Anil.

He worked his skills around scenic and contemporary art until the idea to recreate the very beginning of life grasped his attention. It was just a matter of time before he channeled all his energy into understanding the concept and created a set of seven remarkable pieces based on this theme.

The Creation, as Anil says, is the best he could deliver so far. It was inspired from the description of ‘creation of universe’ as mentioned in the Bible. The paintings were named accordingly – The Beginning, Fruitless Earth, Deep Darkness, Blueprint, First Light, The Separation, and The First Day.

“It took me more than four years to complete the whole group. The paintings present color patterns which change from basic black and white in the The Beginning to a colorful The First Day. When I read on the subject it seemed easy, but executing the idea was a challenge. It was something different and very difficult. Each painting had to be unique as well as present a sense of connection to the rest,” describes Anil.

Apart from Kuwait, he has worked and exhibited his paintings in UAE and Oman, and is planning for another in Kuwait later this year. “Sometimes, I think it’s a little late, but I still try to make the best of all resources I have to display and present my art, here as well as abroad.”

“I always wanted to focus entirely on painting, but I never really got a chance. However, now that I have quit everything else, I can concentrate on it. As far as I can recall, being a painter was a steady dream. There isn’t a specific age or time I remember where I learned to paint. It feels like it was always there,” says Anil.